Cell Phone-Holding Trucks Make $4.2 Million off Students Yearly

After New York City bans cell phones in schools, entrepreneurs take advantage.

New York City's ban on cell phones in schools has taken $4.2 million a year out of kids pockets, according to the New York Post.

A group of entrepreneurs have opened cell phone-holding trucks outside of the 90 high schools and middle schools with permanent metal detectors. They charge $1 a day to store their phones. Stores have also gotten into the business of charging students the same.

“I’ve spent at least $500 on that truck over the last few years,” said Jonathan Lauriano, 18, who attends school on the Columbus HS campus in The Bronx. “They should set up free lock boxes inside because we can’t all afford to pay a dollar a day.”

The industry rakes in $22,800 a day from some of the city's poorest youngsters.

[ALSO READ: Cellphone Heist At High School]

The ban generated controversy last week when a storage truck holding hundreds of cell phones was robbed at gunpoint.

A DOE spokeswoman said the city has no intention of changing its policy as parents criticize the city.

“I cut back on food for the sake of my phone,” said Emily Luna, 17, a junior at the Thomas Jefferson HS campus in Brooklyn.

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